My love for you is like the sea,
A vast and endless mystery;
With tides that ebb and flow like time,
And depths that are forever mine.

What have I done!? I am stuck with no way back.

After coming to this place, I have made irreversible choices and the more time goes on, the more choices I have to make, each time going deeper into the trees.

The series of duels finally came to an end while I was trying to calm myself and think about the steps I should take next.

To counter the two weird men that Allah has thrown into my life.

Tightening the head and face covering around my head, I picked up the sword and the book I was given by the merchant, exiting the tent and once again coming into the view of endless men.

Now that the duels had ended, the people seemed to be divided into two groups.

Walking closer, I noticed that one group was under Aza while the other was under Khulaid.

Ya Allah, I Hope no one expects me to join either one. One tries to make an enemy of me while the other seeks interest in exposing my secrets.

Best I scurry away before someone sees me.

"Amir Hamza!" I had to jinx myself, didn't I?

Turning to face Ahmad, my eyes shoot arrows at him which he seems to be oblivious to.

"Where are you going?" It seemed as if Ahmad wanted to add more to his simple statement but preferred not to.

Raising my sword to his eye level, I hoped he would understand.

"Are you going to clean your weapon? I can ask so-" Shaking my head, I raised a hand to stop him between his sentence.

Placing the thick book under my arm, I unsheathed my sword and slashed the air multiple times to show him what I wanted to do.

Slow man, understand!

"Oh!-" Nodding, I sheathed my sword again. Turning around, I left before the man would delay my training anymore.

Behind the tents was a dense forest, I doubt anyone would come here. Especially Aza or Khulaid since they had their hands full with training others.

Walking a little deeper in the forest, I ended up in a small clearing, bordered by trees and bushes.

Perfect.

Dropping to the ground, I crossed my legs and opened the book.

On the very first page was a small message to all its reader;

Worry not, shall this book should be your mentor. Become partners and you shall unravel the world's secrets.

From poisons to herbs,
From weapons to armour,
From tips to tricks.

You shall find what your heart desire.

Catchy if you ask me!

Turning the page over, the table of content is revealed. Quickly going over the table of contents, a hum escapes me in acknowledgment.

This book really has all.

Skipping to the page I desire, which was obviously the first lesson of the art of the sword, I was greeted with four words written in bold.

Dodge        Block       Deflect      Attack

Is this supposed to be performed in this specific order?

Reading next, I learned that it was one of the basic attack patterns of sword fighting.

The next thing I learned was the 'Work of your wrist'.

Practicing a flexible wrist can change the style of your attack drastically.

Grabbing my wrist, I exercised the joint by rotating my hand.

How long am I supposed to do this?

Moving forward, my eyes skimmed over the content mentioned next.

::

Till sundown, and longer, until the stars had sprinkled the sky and the sun had hidden long ago, I was drenched in sweat.

That one tree in the corner had several crosses on its bark, giving it an intricate but elaborate pattern.

My sword was dropped next to me and I was heaving in the soil. Dirty and sore.

The robe around me was long gone just like my unfamiliarity with the sword. We were now on speaking terms.

Ya Allah, this is difficult! I am sticky all over, my hair is drenched inside the cloth and it feels like those red pests that occasionally broke out on my face during my cycle would be showing their faces again.

The weird movements in the book that I occasionally see my brothers do, I had done them all. From that weird jumping while flailing my arms high in the sky, to the difficult one where we lay on the ground and push our bodies up with the strength of our arms alone.

No one said I succeeded in doing them properly but at least I did what I could with whatever strength I had.

My resolve being stronger led me to not give up and that was enough to make me feel stronger.

Standing back up on my wiggling legs, I enclosed the button of my robe around my neck and pick up all the valuable things that I had thrown away in the trance of exhaustion.

I need a bath.

F

finding my way back to the tents was not an issue, I was good with directions. Dropping my things in my tent, I heard a random warrior calling for dinner.

Only then I realized that I had skipped food in the afternoon and just now my stomach had made it obvious by growling loudly.

Sigh. I hope it is something good.

Walking back out, I made my way to the person who was distributing food.

What's the men- oh my god, I think I am going to puke.

Imagine my face when I saw several goat feet floating in the broth. The concoction bubbled with heat and my lungs constricted.

I cannot eat that! Anything but that!

The person that was distributing the food looked at me and started pouring the food.

"Would you look at the legs on our Amir, he definitely needs more strength and meat on them. Haris, put in one whole leg for him." An arm landed over my shoulders and I stiffened.

Aza, he really wants me to punch him, doesn't he?

My body shuddered at the contact and I immediately shrugged his arm off. Heavy buffalo.

Turning to look at him, I made sure he could see my annoyance through my eyes.

The named distributor did as Aza said and pushed the food bowl toward me with a leg floating in it.

The smell reached my nose and the vomit threatened to gurgle out of my throat.

Hoor! Some people do not even get to eat. Do not dare to disrespect the food.

With a pinched nose, I took hold of the bowl and Haris slammed a large naan on top.

I felt Aza's eyes staring at me continuously and I too raised my eyes to stare at him.

He did not remove his eyes and neither did I, the steaming food in my head starting to heat up my hands.

When this prolonged, I raised my eyebrows in question, he has not figured me out yet, right?

"The more I stare into your eyes, the more it seems I have met you somewhere." My eyes threatened to spill from their sockets and keeping them at bay took a lot of patience.

"But that is not possible, I would definitely have remembered a man like you." And with that Aza turned and left, leaving me and my goat feet alone.

My heart continued to hammer in my rib cage.

This man is far more mysterious than he lets on. now I am starting to wonder too. Who is he? Why does he cover his face as well?

Ignoring my thoughts for now, my eyes scanned for the most isolated place where I can rest in peace with these goat feet.

Yes I know! What is wrong with me! Why such short chapters!?

But um, it's like, after writing 1000 words, I lose my motivation to write on the same chapter. I need a new one.

Ehe